GROWING AND FITTING SHEEP FOR EXHIBITION 283 



flesh which most completely meets the requirements with 

 reference to quality, distribution and firmness. Short of 

 the bloom period the animal has not attained the highest 

 finish of which it is capable. Beyond that stage the bane- 

 ful evidences of fitting too long continued become at once 

 apparent. Sheep and also other animals can only be held 

 for a limited period at the bloom stage ; hence the impor- 

 tance of having them reach it just at the fair season. To 

 have them do so is an evidence of skill on the part of the 

 feeder. This should be most carefully considered when 

 show sheep are to be carried through a show circuit some- 

 what prolonged. They should be made to enter it a little 

 short of the stage of full bloom. They may then be car- 

 ried on to full bloom before the circuit has been completed 

 and before the evidences of retrogression become appar- 

 ent. It is also increasingly difficult to bring animals into 

 the show ring during succeeding years in a proper condi- 

 tion of bloom. The time comes at length when such a con- 

 dition is unattainable. 



6. Unless sheep have more or less training previously, 

 they will not assume that graceful and easy attitude in 

 the show ring which is so pleasing to any judge. If they 

 are restless and stand with the feet unduly spread or too 

 close together, the chances for winning are proportion- 

 ately discounted. Restlessness cannot be prevented in the 

 absence of previous handling. The spreading of the feet 

 forward and backward causes the back to go down. When 

 the feet are drawn together the back will be hunched up. 

 In such an instance gentle pressure over the loin with the 

 right hand, the left hand being underneath the jaw, will 

 correct such an attitude. Should the animal stand, as it 

 were, under protest, as though trying to get away from 

 the attendant, it will not win out in the contest. Should 

 the ground be uneven, the aim should be to place the 

 sheep so that the fore part will be on the higher ground. 

 Rams may be shown to the best advantage when they 

 are trained to lead on the halter at an early age. When 



